Former Minister Govinda Raj Joshi convicted of corruption

Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has convicted former minister and Nepali Congress leader Govindraj Joshi in a corruption case.

On Sunday, Justices Binod Sharma and Balkrishna Dhakal of the Supreme Court ruled that former minister and Nepali Congress leader Govindraj Joshi could not establish his claim of innocence in his appeal. The court found Joshi guilty of acquiring illegal wealth. This decision followed a hearing on July 4, after which the case was revisited on Sunday due to the lack of a decision in the initial trial.

The corruption case against Joshi was initiated by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority in 2003. The Supreme Court has now sentenced Joshi to a fine of NPR 6.915 million and nine months in prison. Joshi had appealed to the Supreme Court in February 2013 after being declared corrupt by the Special Court.

In July 2012, the Special Court, led by then-chairman Gauri Bahadur Karki and members Omprakash Mishra and Kedar Prasad Chalise, found Joshi guilty of corruption for acquiring property illegally, including confiscating assets worth over NPR 20 million.

Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Joshi will now serve his prison term and must pay the imposed fines and additional penalties.